NFL
By: Zach Draves
Muhammad Ali once said that Hank Aaron was the only man he ever idolized other than himself.
That spoke volumes about the impact the home run king had that went well beyond the confines of a baseball diamond.
That impact is being felt throughout the sports world as tributes poured in to acknowledge the passing of not one of the most consequential players of all time, but a man who held true to his convictions and unafraid to speak truth to power in the face of unrelenting racist terror.
Hank emerged from the poverty and systemic racism of the Jim Crow South to a standout for the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues to one of Jackie Robinson’s disciples in the post color barrier era of Major League Baseball.
His career spanned twenty-three seasons from 1954 to 1976 beginning with the then Milwaukee Braves before the team eventually moved to Atlanta.
(Courtesy: Jacobin)
It was there beginning in 1973 where Hank started to close in on one of the game’s sacred milestones, the all-time home run leader, a title held by none other than Babe Ruth at 714.
Along the way, he endured racist death threats and file attacks that got so bad that he had to hire bodyguards to protect himself and his family and the FBI had to get involved.
For years Hank held onto the death threats as a reminder of the terror he and his loved ones had to live with.
Even as he closed in on the record, MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who has a shady history of fascistic sensibilities, was a reluctant presence on opening day 1974 when the Braves were playing the Cincinnati Reds’s Big Red Machine.
That day, April 4th, Hank hit homer 713 and it also marked the 6th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
He requested to MLB that there would be a moment of silence to honor Dr. King before the game, but it never happened, which deeply upset Hank.
It was an indication that the league didn’t really care about him and the sight of Kuhn was just mere public relations.
Four days later in front of a sold-out crowd in Atlanta, with civil rights activist Andrew Young, Atlanta’s first black mayor Maynard Jackson, and Sammy Davis Jr on hand, Hank eclipsed one of baseball’s cherished records.
(Courtesy: Los Angeles Times)
As he rounded the bases, two young hippie-looking white men ran out onto the field and proceeded to shake his hand and pat him on the back.
(Courtesy: Photofocus)
Some understandably thought they posed a threat to Hank’s life.
Hank was very reserved and calm in his achievement and he was relieved that the pressure was lifted off.
He would go on to hit 755 home runs.
It was during this time and in the years after that Hank became actively involved in racial justice in baseball and in society at large.
He was actively involved in civil rights organizations such as the NAACP and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson.
(Courtesy: Associated Press)
Hank was actively involved in ensuring that there were more opportunities for African Americans in MLB managerial and executive positions and holding the league’s feet to the fire every step of the way.
He would lend his support to future athlete activists such as Colin Kaepernick who posted a moving tribute on Twitter.
Hank Aaron has always been a giant—a living legend—whose courage,resilience,&honor inspired millions.He fought for us with every swing of his bat,&paved the way for us to walk in.I was fortunate enough to be able to tell him “thank you” in person. Rest in Power Hammerin’ Hank✊🏾⚾️ pic.twitter.com/g2afouZ77F
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 23, 2021
(Courtesy: Twitter)
Hank Aaron was many things to many people, but he was an unapologetic black man who stood his ground and was to baseball what Shirley Chisholm was to politics, unbought and unbossed.
In terms of historical recognition, any attempts to whitewash and water down his legacy needs to be defeated.
The outpouring of love and admiration for him today was certainly not the case in 1974 or even as recently as 2014 when Hank received additional racist threats after he called out racism in American politics.
The same was true for Dr. King, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Nelson Mandela whom mainstream society has grossly watered down their legacies of justice and equality to make certain people feel comfortable in their ignorance about race and racism.
These freedom fighters deserve better and anything less is an insult.
Hank Aaron ought to be remembered the way he wanted to be, not simply as the home run king, but as a man who stood up for his beliefs and never gave up on the struggle.
Rest in Power.
(Courtesy: The Daily Beast)
